Electrical connector.



' S- G. CRANE. ELECTRIQAL CONNECTUR; PPLICATION" FiLED JAN. 2?. 19151' fat amid Nov 2?, i912;

WITNESSES: a9 5 642M SAMUEL G. CRANE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Application filed January 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. CRANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'lloledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to connectors and conductor systems for transmitting electricity, and has for its primary object to provide a simple and ellicient connector and conductor system wherein provision is made for utilizing electrical currents of dill'erent strengths, so as to enable the connector and the conductors connected therewith to be used under many varying conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive connector and conductor system with a novel arrangement of multiple contacts and wiring connections whereby currents of greatly varying strengths may be transmitted therethrough, while providing means for automatically distinguishing between the proper and incorrect contacts for a current of known strength, enabling the connector to be used as a safeguard against improper connections whereby the conductors leading therefrom might be injured or destroyed through carelessness, ignorance, or mistake.

More particularly, the connector and conductor system herein disclosed is designed to provide a connecting and conducting means that will allow currents of dili'erent strengths, as for example, of 110 and 220 volts, to be utilized to illuminate the same set of electric lamps, the wiring system whereby the current is transmitted through the lamps being automatically changed by suitable arrangements of the contact devices carried by the connector.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation with parts in section of my improved connector arranged to illuminate the same set of lamps with currents of two different strengths, with a portable connector in positionto transmit the current of greater strength.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the connector w1th a diagrammatic view of the lamps and the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 119317.

SerialNo. 4,798. wiring connections, the wiring systems utilized to transmit the current oi greater strength, being shown in full lines, and the auxiliary wiring connections not used in the transmission ol the current of greater strength being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the connector with a diagrammatic view of the lamps and wiring system utilized to transmit the cur? i rent oi less strength, the auxiliary wiring connections not used in the transmission of the current ol less strength being shown in dotted lines. 7

in the drawings, 5-dcsignatcs a portable connector of the ordinary type adapted to be inserted into a suitable fixed soclc t and carrying at its free cud a pair olspring tined prongs 6. The numeral 7 designates a connector plug lorincd as herein shown of a block or disk of insulating material having three alincd openings therein, two ol said openings 8 being relatively dccp and the remaining opcning H rclal ivcly shallow, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

in the shallow opening 8 is arranged a contact ring 9 having suitable connections with a binding post i) at the la riphcry of the connector plug. \Vithin each ol' the deep openings are arranged two contact rings 10, one ol' said rings being secured adjacent the upper extremity ol each opening and the other ol' said contact rings being secured adjacent. the lower extremity there-- of. ()ne oi deep openings 8--z'. c. that arranged ncarcst the periphery of the connector plug has suitable connections between the upper of its contact rings 11') and the binding post 13. while the lower ol its contactrings is suitably connected to a bind ing post 13 substantially as arranged in Fig. 1. The other o'l said deep openings 8, hereinafter referred to as the central open ing, is arranged. between the shallow opening 5) and the tirst-mcntioncd deep opening S of the connector plug. The upper and lower contact rings 10 in this central opening are connected by wires 11 and 11 respecti vcly, extending from said contact rings to binding posts 12 and 12 located at 'diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the connector or plug (see Fig. 2).

When it is desired to utilize a currlmt of say 220 volts, the spring tined prongs (i of are arranged as the portable connector shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with one of said prongs extending into the shallow opening 9 and the other prong in contact with the upper of the contact rings 10 of the central opening 8. When so connected the wiring connection from the binding post 90 attached to the contact ring of the shallow opening 9 extends to a lamp 14 shown at one extremity of the row of lamps in Fig. 1 by a wire leading through the upper portion of the lamp marked 15, thence to the third lamp of said row, marked 16, from which lamp a return connection is made to the upper contact ring of thecentral opening 8. The second and fourth lamps of the row, marked 15 and 17 respectively 1n the drawings, are wired in the same manner, the connection leading from the binding post 9 to the lamp marked 15, thence to the lamp marked 17, from which lamp the return is made to the upper contact ring of the central opening 8 through the wire lead ing through the upper portion of lamp marked 16 and the return wire from this lamp. This wiring system forms substantially a multiple, series system wherein lamps l4 and 16 are so connected that the extinguishment of one by break of the circuit thereinwould result in-the extinguishment of the other, though not affecting the lighting-oi the-other lamps of the row-to wit, lamps marked 15 and 17. The same connection-allows the simultaneous extinguishment ofthe lamps 1'5 anc 17 of the row withoutatl ccting the illui ination of lamps 14 and 16'of the row.

" When, however, it is desired to utilize a current of 110 volts'jfor lighting the same lamps 1 1-, 15, 16, and 17, the prongs of a suitable portable plug are inserted into the two deep apertures S into contact with both the upper and lower contact rings therein.

-When so connected each lamp in the row has substantially an individual circuit, the wiring system being arranged so that the lamps are Wired in multiple. To illuminate the lamp marked 1i, connection is made from the binding post 13 attached to the lower contact ring of the aperture 8 adjacent the periphery of the disk 7 to lamp 14 and the return is made directly from said lamp to the binding post 12 attached to the lower contact ring of the central aperture 8 (see Fig. To illuminate the lamp marked 15, connection is made from the binding post 13 attached to the upper contact ring of the aperture 8 adjacent the periphery of the disk to lamp 15, thence the return is made to the binding post 12 attached to the lower contact ring of the central aperture. To illuminate the lamp marked 16 connection is made' from the binding post 13 attached to the lower contact ring-of the aperture 8 adjacent the periphery of the disk to the lamp 16 and the return is made to the binding post 12 attached to the upper contact ring of the wit tral aperture. To illuminate the lamp marked 17 connection is made from the binding post 13 attached to the upper contact ring of the aperture 8 adjacent the periphery of the disk to the lamp 17 and the return is made to the binding post 12 attached to the upper contact ring of the central aperture. This wiring system forms substantially a multiple system wherein each of the lamps 14, 15, 16 and 17 are provided with an individual circuit and the extinguishment of one will not affect the illumination of the others.

t will be apparent from the above that this connector provides a system of contacts arranged so that when a current of 110 volts is utilized the lamps will be individually supplied, while in order to utilize a current of 220 volts a second series of contacts are provided wherein alternate lamps of the row are connected in series and these series connections arranged in'niultiple enabling the stronger current to be used Without injuring or destroying the lamps.

Further the simplicity of the arrangement insures the correct usage of the connector by all who may have occasion to utilize the same, and the adaptation of the same connector and the same set of lamps, etc., to a plurality of currents of varied strengths renders the connector capable of usage under many and varied working conditions.

It is to be understood that the connector herein shown may be used in the transmission of current for other purposes than the illumination of a row of lamps, and the connection herein disclosed is not to be limited to the illustrative embodiment herein shown, but many modifications or additions may be made thereto without departing from he spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in thefollowing claims.

Having described my invention, I claim.

1. An electrical connector and conductor system comprising a block of insulating material having two relatively deep openings and one shallow opening therein. a single contact device arranged in the shallow opening and a pair '01 spacedcontact devices arranged in the two deep openings, wiring connections between the contact device in the shallow opening and one of the contact devices in one of said deep openings, and wiring connections between the several contacts of said deep openings.

2. An electrical connector and conductor system comprising a block of insulating material having two relatively deep openings and one shallow opening therein, a single contact device arranged in the shallow openlng anda pair of spaced contact devices arranged in the two deep openings, 'wirin connections between the several contact devices in said deep openings, and wiring connectiene between the Contact device in said siiaiiew Opening and one 01 the Contact device in ene of said; deep openings, 4

3 An electrical connector and conductor system eeizipi'isiiig a block of insulating teriai having two relatively deep epeniiige 1111i eiie shallow opening therein a, single device arranged in the shailew epening and a pair of spaced 0011; :t devices air-- i'ei ged in the two deep opening wiring eonneetiens from the several contacts in the "we deep epenings for 't'i'zuimitting current through multiple Circuits, 21nd Wiring e011- nectiens 110111 the Contact device 01': said sheiiow opening and one of the eem'gaets of said deep openings for transmitting current through multiple series circuits. 

